Adore Sandis humor, so knew this would be a great read. Full of heartwarming humor, and a fan static story. Highly recommend.

"Friends of Dorothy" by Sandi Toksvig is a warm, insightful, and engaging exploration of LGBTQ+ history, culture, and identity. With Toksvig’s signature wit and sharp storytelling, the book delves into the origins and evolution of the phrase "Friends of Dorothy" while celebrating the resilience, contributions, and struggles of the queer community. Through a mix of personal anecdotes, historical context, and social commentary, Toksvig crafts a narrative that is both educational and deeply entertaining. Whether discussing iconic figures, pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ rights, or the enduring importance of community and solidarity, "Friends of Dorothy" is a heartfelt and illuminating read that offers humor, wisdom, and a sense of belonging to all who turn its pages.

What a delightful, quirky, funny read and so touching! The audio book is read expertly by Sandi herself and is enjoyable to listen to.

This book has everything, a touch of humour, addressing issues of social acceptance and especially the importance of special people in life, particularly through troubled times.

I found this storyline to be both brave and emotional. At times it was profoundly unnerving and dark, but always caring and heartfelt.

Avoiding any spoilers, the blurb tells you what you need to know about the plot. Grimaldi Square is a place I feel we might all want to live, with Dorothy and the gang as friends, it is a hugely enjoyable and satisfying read!

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that this a perfect cozy read and is an easy read in the best of ways. I devoured this book in a day and was disappointed with myself that I finished it so quickly.

There is a lot of humour in this book which you would expect from this author, however it does dive deeper into issues within society such as care of the elderly and also LGBTQ + issues but it is handled in a really good way.

There are several entertaining characters who helped to build the story and environment around them which helps to drive the story.

Would recommend to everyone to read as feel that no matter what genre you enjoy this is just a pleasant and easy read.

When Amber and Stevie move into the home of their dreams (despite its minor flaws), they do not expect one of the major issues they face to be the 80 year old woman sitting inside on a red sofa informing them that - as the previous owner - she has no plans to vacate the house that they have purchased...

A key theme of this book is found family, and it is at times quite charming and heartwarming. But it does require some suspension of disbelief to accept the level of generosity and tolerance the couple are willing to extend towards this unexpected inhabitant in their home. Some of the humour is also a bit over the top.

But all in all, this is a funny, kind hearted and entertaining story worth checking out.

A cute, cosy caper about queer families - easy, fun and a little bit silly. It isn't the most balanced book - some plot points beggar belief and felt constructed specifically around punch lines - but it's all very cosy and comforting.

When Amber and Stevie buy their first home together, they expect the previous owners to have left some things behind - a washing machine, maybe, or a forgotten box in the loft. What they are not prepared for is the little old lady they find ensconced on a red sofa on the first floor. Dorothy, as she introduces herself, declares herself to be the former owner of Number 4 Grimaldi Square - and she doesn't seem to have any intention of leaving.

The gleefully-titled Friends of Dorothy is a sweet, funny celebration of community, love and the family we choose. Having come to it without any particular expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by this delightful, cosy story.

Obviously you have to be willing to suspend your disbelief with regard to Stevie and Amber's (or at least Amber's) seemingly endless tolerance for this strange old woman's continued presence in their home, but once you get past this, you are in for a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Dorothy's tendency to say and do whatever comes to mind (a frequently parodied privilege of old age) drives Stevie, somebody who likes every aspect of her life to be perfectly planned, to distraction, but it is also the catalyst for many hilarious moments, as well as many tender ones, as she leads the central characters and everyone in their orbit to look at life and relationships in a new way. Yes, it's quite predictable. Yes, it has a cheesy ending. But this is a truly lovely, comforting read.

My one note would be that, while Dorothy is vibrant, fascinating and sympathetic, shining in her every interaction, both Stevie and Amber feel underdeveloped and not particularly interesting; local handyman Bobby Twococks has more depth. Nevertheless, the breadth of LGBTQ+ representation is always heartening to see.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The plot is fine, the characters are good, and the story as a whole is entertaining. Amber and Stevie move into their new home to find the previous owner, Dorothy, is still there and not planning to leave. We meet most of the neighbourhood, who generally ends up working together to solve most of their problems. The first third of the book is the hardest to get through with the over the top, nearly slap stick scenarios. After this you get to know the characters and care what happens with them. Without the slapstick, this is a lovely warm story.

A brilliant, fun read. The relationships between the main characters is so entertaining with a lovely, warm feeling throughout the book. I found myself completely engaged and invested in their lives and rooting for a happy outcome. Whether that came to fruition or not, you'll have to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC.

Married couple Stevie and Amber move into what they hope to be their dream home, to find that the previous resident (Dorothy) still upstairs in the house. Dorothy is the 80 year old foul mouthed owner who decides she’s not going anywhere. And so the story begins as Stevie and Amber navigate the chaos to achieve their happily ever after.

Friends of Dorothy appears to be a light-hearted, funny read about love and friendship centering around a couple, Amber and Stevie, who move into their home only to find the owner (Dorothy) still there. I know. An absolute plot twist for Amber and Stevie. As I read on though and the story progressed, it turned out to also be a book about very important social issues such as discrimination against members of the LGBTQIAP+ community and social housing.

Overall, I loved Dorothy and the perspective she brought to Amber and Stevie’s life as they navigated their challenges. She was the absolute star of this book. I also loved everyone banding together for the greater good. While I appreciated that the author highlighted these issues through this book, I did find some of the conversation between some of the characters a bit repetitive and unbelievable which dampened my reading experience slightly.

Read if you enjoy:
Good friendships
Spunky characters
A small town/village setting
Suitcases full of mystery
Familial history
Found family

Unfortunately as much as I love Sandi and really wanted to enjoy this read, I was over 60% of the way through and just didn’t feel like the story or characters were going anywhere. I was very reluctant to but had to DNF.

I haven’t read any of Sandi Toksvig’s books before, but saw this and liked the premise. It didn’t disappoint; after a few months of only reading thrillers, I was ready for something cosy and feel-good. The book deals with some difficult topics throughout the story, but with warmth and humour from the characters who pull together. Overall I enjoyed it, not a rapid page turner, but a lovely one to read next to the Christmas tree!

I was so sucked into this from the start; a young couple purchased their dream house, and everything seemed perfect, but then they discovered Dorothy. Dorothy was the owner but hasn't moved out. Weaving in and out of different characters and lives makes this a beautiful book. I would recommend it.

The writing in this book is absolutely stunning. The story was captivating, and held me tight, I raced through the book and loved every minute of it. This is a true literary masterpiece.

I enjoyed this book by Sandi Toksvig. The story line was a little different to the usual novel of this nature, and I felt that set it apart. It was great to see a slightly different set up and the reasons why Dorothy sold her house and then didn't leave. Seeing how Amber and Stevie navigated this and how their story progressed was really interesting.

Amber and Stevie have found what they hope will be their perfect home, but there's a catch: Dorothy, the previous owner, is still living there, and seems to have no intention of moving. A touching, often raw, and wonderfully British story of chosen family, and what it means to give one another hope. Sometimes funny, often wry, and always heartfelt.

Imagine buying a new home, moving in and finding that the previous owner has not left. In fact she is still very much installed. For Amber and Stevie, this is meant to be the forever home, surely they can convince Dorothy to leave?

But Dorothy, 80 years old and with no filter, is not going anywhere, she is waiting in the house. And it seems Amber and Stevie will have to work round her.

What happens is farcical, humorous, tinged with sadness and full of warmth and good nature as the story progresses. this book made me laugh out loud, it made me cross with people’s opinions and expectations of what a family should look like.

Without doubt, one of my books of the year and something that could do with a second reading to enjoy all over again!

I had read and loved a couple of the author's previous books and very much enjoyed this one too. Amber and Stevie buy a house, but previous owner Dorothy is still living there and appears reluctant to move out. The story goes from there and is both hilarious and moving, with wonderful characters and is ultimately uplifting and lovely. A delightful read.

A joyful tale with endearing characters whipped full of wit in typical Sandi Toksvig style. Lots of laugh out loud moments, clever humour as well as poignant issues addressed.